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I’m all for a great deal when it comes to golf. Although I could easily justify spending big money on a memorable round of golf, I’m not sure my wife would see the value of those memories when it hits our bank account.

I guess I also have a newbie complex when it comes to being on the stage of a major course. I want to make sure I bring my “A” Game. I wouldn’t want the nerves to get a hold of me when there would already be groups pushing to stay on schedule.

That’s not to say that I don’t like playing a more expensive or “championship” course. We have our share of beautiful courses here in Kentucky, and a few have even been stages of championships on the Tour (Valhalla in Louisville).

As golfers, we live in what I see as a transitional period in terms of participation and the game as a whole. As I’ve written about in a previous article, experts say that participation is down, and there are those who are seeking to increase golf’s appeal to a new generation of fans. Those entities that must adapt or suffer are clubs that are exclusively private.

Don’t get me wrong — private clubs have their place. I fully understand the appeal and exclusivity. I am not advocating making all clubs public, or open to all. Being a member of a private club is a reward for either economic success or athletic prowess, and that’s ok.

Other sports that are “public-friendly” have their exclusive events — you have to qualify to run the Boston, New York, and many other marathons. These are reserved for those athletes that are considered elite, or those everyday runners who can fundraise a large amount of money.

That’s the draw of many clubs. Members want to make sure that they get a personalized experience above and beyond the typical local course, and they’re willing to pay for it. To be honest, if I could, I would.

 

My point is…

Many of the smaller private clubs are not doing as well in terms of financial sustainability. These clubs are now opting to become semi-private, or in some cases, becoming fully accessible to the general public. Such is the case with two courses in two different cities that surround me.

The one course was exclusively private, only allowing members who owned houses or property on or around the course. They have since started offering membership options to others, while at the same time stopping the practice of having residents hold mandatory memberships. The other course is now fully public, where once it was a members-only establishment. Both are doing much better

I love these golf courses, but with my budget and time constraints, I prefer my smaller, privately-owned or municipal courses. For the most part, the greens fees are substantially cheaper, and some of the unnecessary rules are (at times) relaxed.

I can play 18 holes on a challenging, well-maintained golf course in my town for between $10-$25 dollars, including cart. I have a buddy who just took over the ownership of a course. He offers 9 holes for $8 and 18 for $12, also with a cart.

With deals like these, I can golf more and work on my game without feeling like I’ve spent too much. It also bears mentioning that these courses are almost always busy.

Sure, I’d love to play Pebble Beach, or Pinehurst, or any other renowned course, but on a budget, these courses offer what I need. A bad round doesn’t feel like throwing away money. In fact, it’s like having a personal 3 hour lesson for under $20.

Still, I’ll gladly play a round at a Top 100 course — if you’re buying…

Hit ’em long and straight…


Cover Photo via Flickr

Eddie is a husband and father of two. He is a lifelong and highly opinionated Cincinnati Bengals, Reds, and University of Kentucky Wildcats fan. An avid golfer and student of the sport, he is always on the lookout for cheap rounds, while balancing work and family.

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